[Volunteers] Volunteer listserv: November 2, 2004

Tue Nov 2 11:21:33 CST 2004

Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Office of Volunteer Programs Weekly Listserv

Table of Contents
1. Children's Clothing & Book Sale
2. Donate a Toy for Free Bowling
3. 5k and 10k Run Supporting Prairie Preservation
4. Divorce Resources
5. Sorting Dried Goods
6. Alternative Spring Break
7. Help Inside Tent City at State Football Tournament
8. Pajama Reading Night
9. Children’s Program Volunteer

1. Children's Clothing & Book Sale

Help sort and prepare for the annual clothing sale of the 
Unit 4 Champaign Pre-K Program at the Champaign Early 
Childhood Center. You can also sign up to work during the 
sale. The dates and times are as follows: Nov 3, 2PM-7PM; Nov 
4, 9AM-7PM; Nov 5, 8AM-1PM. The center is located at  809 N. 
Neil in Champaign. Contact Maggie Rodriguez-Nieto for more 
information at (217) 351-3711.

2. Donate a Toy for Free Bowling

Illini Union Rec Room is currently offering coupons for a 
free game of bowling to the first 100 people who bring in 
toys for OVP’s Annual Holiday Toy Drive. The Toy Drive began 
on November 1st and ends December 6th. Email Lindsay at 
lbaran at uiuc.edu with the number of children you would like to 
sponsor, and she will give you a specific age bracket and 
requested gift ideas. This is done in order for a wider range 
of children to receive gifts rather than over emphasis on a 
particular age group. Please keep your toy purchases at $15 
or less. Drop off new toys in the OVP office located at 277 
Illini Union in the RSO complex between the hours of 9AM-5PM, 
Monday through Friday. Please do not wrap the toys. The toys 
collected will be distributed to human service agencies in 
Champaign County. If you have any further questions or 
concerns feel free to contact Lindsay or call the Office of 
Volunteer Programs at (217) 333-7424.

3. 5k and 10k Run Supporting Prairie Preservation

Volunteers are needed to set out traffic controls for the 
race. This includes putting out cones and street barricades 
plus registering up to 100 participants. The race starts at 9 
am and supervision is needed to ensure the runners follow the 
correct 5k/10k splits down race streets and through 
Meadowbrook Prairie Park. Water stations need to be personed. 
We record times and sort out winners of awards, which are 
pictures of prairie plants or landscapes. The date of the 
race is November 7th, and volunteers are needed at 7AM. 
Transportation can be arranged to pick you if you need a 
ride. The race will take place at the Orchard Downs Married 
Housing Pavilion on George Huff Dr., Urbana. This is west of 
Race which is south of Florida and north of Windsor. For more 
information or if you would like to sign up to volunteer, 
call David Monk at (217) 351-1911.

4. Divorce Resources

Currently our community doesn't have any support groups for 
people going through divorce with the exception of a few 
faith-based support groups. There is a serious need to help 
men and women going through this emotional stressful time. 
The Divorce Resource of Central Illinois is starting an 8-
week support/educational program hosted by therapists.  We 
need volunteers to go to the Law Building in Urbana on a 
regular basis and collect the names and addresses of the 
people who have filed for divorce (this is public 
information), and then come to our office and send them a 
letter letting them know about our support group schedule.  
We will also need individuals who would be willing to help us 
spread the word in the community in other ways by posting 
flyers, etc. but the main ongoing need at this time is the 
information gathering/letter mailing. 

We need 1-2 volunteers who would be interested in working 
through the end of the spring semester at least.  Hours are 
extremely flexible; whatever is convenient for your schedule 
as long as it fits into the 9-5 time frame when offices are 
open. Time commitment would be approximately one afternoon  
or morning a week. For more information on the Divorce 
Resource of Central Illinois go to www.divorceresourceil.org. 
If you are interested in volunteering contact Barbara Paynter 
by email at bpaynter1 at sbcglobal.net.

5. Sorting Dried Goods

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank needs help sorting some of the 
dried goods they have recently received. The Eastern Illinois 
Foodbank is a nonprofit organization that acquires, stores, 
maintains and distributes quantities of food products and 
essentials to hungry people through Eastern Illinois, thus 
alleviating hunger and nourishing stronger communities. The 
Eastern Illinois Foodbank would like anyone who would like to 
help. Volunteers are needed Tuesday, November 9th and Monday 
the 15th from 5PM-7PM. Volunteers are also needed for 
Saturday the 13th from 10AM-12PM. We are looking for as many 
volunteers as possible. For more information, contact Jessica 
Culp by email jculp at eifoodbank.org or call her at (217) 328-
3663 Ext. 17.

6. Alternative Spring Break

"Go somewhere!  Do something!"  Alternative Spring Break 
(ASB) sends out fall, winter and spring break 
volunteer/service trips all over the country.  We are 
currently accepting applications for this year's spring 
trips.  Some issues we will work with this year include the 
following: migrant farm workers' rights, urban poverty, 
pediatric cancer, HIV/AIDS, environmental issues, and many 
more.  Trips are open to all UIUC students, grad students, 
and staff.  Please visit  www.illinoisasb.org for more 
information and for applications.  Applications are due in 
for site facilitators by November 5th, and general 
participants by November 12th. If you have questions or would 
like more information, please contact ASB co-chair Jennie at 
jkwon1 at uiuc.edu.  ASB board members are also available to 
come to your group meetings if you would like a short 
presentation about who we are and what we do for your 
members.  Don't miss this opportunity to accomplish something 
meaningful and have a ton of fun this spring break!

7. Help Inside Tent City at State Football Tournament

Volunteers are needed inside "Tent City" during the State 
Football Tournament to monitor the interactive games, answer 
questions about the community, pass out complimentary 
souvenirs, pick up trash as necessary and make sure the 
coaches' room has food and drink. Shifts are from three hours 
long and begin at the following times: 7AM, 10AM, 1PM, 4PM, 
7PM and 10PM on November 26 and November 27. Tent City is 
across from Memorial Stadium Champaign. If you would like to 
participate or need further information contact Lucas at 
lucast at champaigncounty.org or call him at (217) 351-4133, 
extension 43.

8. Pajama Reading Night

This should be a fun night, where parents bring their 
children in their PJ’s and read to their child. 
Different "stations" with different themes will be set up for 
families to enjoy. We need volunteers to supervise the 
reading areas, help make puppets, pass out snacks AND 2-4 
people to wear costumes. The event takes place November 18th 
from 5:30PM-7:30PM at the Unit 4 Champaign Pre-K Program - 
Champaign Early Childhood Center located at 809 N. Neil in 
Champaign. Contact Maggie Rodriguez-Nieto at (217) 351-3711 
if you are interested.

9. Children’s Program Volunteer

The Center for Women in Transition has four regular 
opportunities to help out with children’s programs. 
Volunteers create arts and crafts, sing and dance, and 
imagine with the children. We would like people who can be 
reliable and consistent. This opportunity is a great way to 
build healthy and meaningful relationships with children from 
new born to 13 year old for males and up to 18 years old for 
females. These programs take place on Tuesdays 9AM-11AM and 
6:30PM-8:30PM, Thursdays 9:30AM-11:30AM and 7PM-9PM. Contact 
John Phillips if at (217) 352-7151 if you would like to get 
involved with the program. 

Visit our website to find more volunteer opportunities: 
www.cuvolunteer.org. 
We offer the most comprehensive list of volunteer 
opportunities in Champaign County.

Staci Provezis & Michael Cipriani
Office of Volunteer Programs
Phone#:  333-7424
E-mail:  ovp at uiuc.edu
Office:  277 Illini Union (in the RSO complex)
Website: www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp